Latch mechanism



Sept. 15, 1 953 1.. L. ANDERSON LATCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1948 an 00 5 2 E W V E N D IN A L I Y o L. Y 1

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ATTORNEY;

Sept. 15, 1953 L. L. ANDERSON 2,652,277

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15, 1948 5 Sheets-$heet 2 1 I/ s o 1| g luvsm'orz LLOYD. L. ANDERSON A'n'onnevs P 1953 1.. ANDERSON 2,652,277

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15, 1948 4 s Sheets-Sheet 5 lrwsin'oa 7 LLOYD L. Anoeasou FIG-.- 5

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1953 LATCH MECHANISM Lloyd L. Anderson, Gran to Jervis Corporation, poration of Michigan d Rapids, Mich., assignor Grandville, Mich., a cor- Application November 15, 1948, Serial No. 60,144

5 Claims. (01. 292-332) The present invention is directed to a latch mechanism, particularly useful in conjunction with refrigerators, by means of which a door may be held securely in a sealed relation to a, cabinet or casing on which it is hingedly mounted, is readily opened when desired and is automatically closed whether the latch is in a cocked or uncocked position, the latch normally being in its cocked position when it is released for door opening, and automatically tripped to engage with a keeper strike therefor on closing the door. However, if through inadvertence or accident or otherwise the latch bolt is in uncooked position while the door is open, the door may be closed without first operating the bolt to cocked position.

The novel mechanism which embodies the invention is one which is mounted upon the exterior of the refrigerator door and casing with a marked reduction in the expense of installation. The latch also is compact, and sturdy and durable, and may be manufactured at a low cost and at less expense than other comparative latches serving substantially the same purposes.

An understanding ofthe invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a horizontal section through fragmentary portions of a door and the casing the front opening of which the dOOr closes, having the latch applied and shown in closed position, said latch being partly in section and partly in plan.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the latch bolt and keeper.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged vertical section, substantially on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig.5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the latch cocked and released for door opening.

Figs. 6 and '7 are vertical sections substantially on the planes of lines 6-B and 1-1, respectively, of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section substantially on the plane of line 8--8 of Fig. 6, showing a view similar to Fig. 1, of a slight modification of structure for releasing the latch by operation of a vertical or drop handle instead of a horizontal handle as in Fig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings, and the sections are taken looking in the'directions indiciated by the arrows associated with the section 1 nes.

vertical edge of the door I,

The refrigerator door I and the refrigerator casing 2 to which the latch and the keeper strike for the latch are respectively connected, are of a conventional structure. The keeper is secured to the outer side of the casing 2, adjacent its front face, and comprises a supporting bracket having a leg 3 to bear against the outer side of the casing 2, and a leg 4 extending outwardly at right angles therefrom, from which latter leg a strike hook 5 extends in a forward direction as shown. The

open side of the hook is presented outwardly away from the side of the refrigerator casing 2 as shown in Fig. 4. The leg 3 of the bracket has vertical slots therein for the passage of attaching screws or the like for a proper adjustable connection of the keeper to the casing.

The latch which is secured adjacent the free includes a housing having spaced upper and lower sides 6 connected by a transverse or cross member I at their outer edges, an inner cross member 8, and an inner cross member and cross end member 9, the parts 8 and 9 lying against the outer side of the door I at its outer edge and at the front adjacent such edge. Said housing in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is openbetween the cross members I and 9 for the reception of a handle I 0 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin II, extending between the sides 6 of the housing, around which is a torsion spring I2 having end arms, one bearing against the handle I0 and the other against a second cross pin I3, spaced from the pin II, and extending between the sides 6 of the housing adjacent the outer side of the door I. The handle within the housing has a lip provided with an inner curved or cam surface I4. At the other side of the pivot the handle extends away from the housing and is of sufficient length that it may bereadily grasped by the hand for outward pull. The spring I2 upon release of the handle returns it to its original position substantially parallel to the outer face of the door I as in Fig. l.

The latch bolt I5 is of channel form in cross section at its outer portion. The sides of the channel have vertically aligned slots I6 therein through which a pin I'I extends, the ends of which are mounted upon the opposed sides 6 of the previously described housing. The bolt I5 is therefore mounted fOr a pivotal and sliding movement upon said pin I A roller I8 is mounted on the bolt adjacent its outer end on a shaft for the roller extending between and carried by the opposed flanges of the bolt I5 as shown in Fig. 2. The roller I8 isadapted to enter the opening or 3 recess in the strike hook 5 to connect with the keeper (Fig. 1) and in such position the bolt I5 is parallel to the plane of the outer side of the refrigerator casing 2.

The flanges of the bolt are extended outwardly beyond the web and are shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 into a generally angular form as indicated at 19. At the angle between the two portions of the angular sections 19 of said flanges, and at the outer edges of said flanges, they are formed with arcuate recesses 20 (Fig. 5). The recesses 20 are shaped to form seats for the reception of a third cross pin 2| which extends between the sides 6 of the housing described and which pin is embraced within said recesses 20 when the bolt engages with the strike hook 5 of the keeper (Fig. 1)

A pin 22 is mounted between the outer ends of said flange extensions l9 of the bolt. The pin passes through one end of a flat bar 23, the other end portion thereof being provided with a longitudinal slot through which slot pin l3 passes. A coiled spring 24 is positioned around the bar 23, one end bearing against the pin I3 and the other against shoulders on said bar, which is widened at the end thereof where it connects with the latch bolt to provide such shoulders.

At each side of the bar 23, where the pin 22 passes through it, a roller 25 is mounted. At each outer side of each roller 25 a roller 26 of a larger diameter is mounted on the pin. The rollers 25 will ride on the curved surface is of the handle when the handle is pulled outwardly at its free end, such curved surface 14 operating as a-cam to move the bar 23 lengthwise against the force of spring 24. The rollers 26 bear against the third transverse pin 2i and roll around it from the position shown in Fig. 5 when the handle is pulled outwardly, thereby guiding the bolt and causing its movement from its latching to its releasing position, or from the position in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5. In the latter position the line of force of the spring 24, passing through the axes of the pins 13 and 22 will be carried from the outer side of the axis of the pin 2| to' the inner side thereof, whereby the spring 24 in the latter position, shown in Fig. 5, acts to hold the bolt in inclined or cocked position.

In'such-movement of the handle l outwardly the roller 26 rides against the pin 2! being pressed thereagainst by the spring 24. After the latch has been moved to its released position (Fig. upon release of the handle l0 it returns to the dash line position under the influence of spring 12. When the door is closed the inner corner at the free end of the latch bolt strikes against the leg 4 of the keeper witha consequent longitudinal movement of the bolt permitted by the slots l6, so that the line of force of the spring, passing through the axes of the pivots l3 and 22, is moved to the outer side of the axis of pin 2| and the bolt thereupon is swun clockwise by spring 24 for the roller l8 to engage with the strike hook 5 in the recess thereof, a component of the force of the spring 24 tending to move the bolt l5 in the direction of its length and outwardly so that the roller l8 at the inner side of the strike hook 5 acts to draw the door I to a tightly closed and sealed condition, it being understood that between the inner side of the door and the face of the door casing the usual resilient sealing gaskets are located.

In the structure described and shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the handle turns about a vertical pivot and moves in a horizontal plane. In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, a drop handle and one 4 movable in a vertical plane is applied to the latch mechanism. The housing is modified, the opening through the outer sides I of the housing being much less in width. The bar 23 is extended in length at its inner end and provided with a pin 21 through it, spaced a short distance from the pin 13. A bell crank lever 23 formed from a blank of flat metal bent into U-shape (Fig. '7) is pivotally mounted at 29 on lugs extending inwardly from the outer side I of the housing, and has two spaced arms engaging near their free inner ends with the projecting ends of the pin 21. The drop handle 30 is pivotally mounted at 3| on suitable lugs on the housing I and is acted upon by a coiled spring 32 to hold it at a normal inner position, and to which position it will return after the handle has been pulled outwardly to release the latch bolt from the keeper (Fig. 7). The action of the latch in the structure shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, is identical with that of the first described structure.

The strike hook 5 having an inclined edge located in the path of movement of the roller l8, should the latch bolt be in its uncooked position when the door is closed, such roller will ride thereagainst until it passes the nose of the hook and enters the hook recess. Thus, the door may be closed by swinging it to closed position should the bolt accidentally or otherwise not be in its cocked position at the time.

The novel latch described is of a compact an inexpensive design, and is readily mountedexternally upon the refrigerator door with the keeper externally connected to the refrigerator casing.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within its scope.

I claim: a

l. A latch mechanism for arrangement on a hinged cabinet door adjacent the free edge thereof, said mechanism including an elongated latch bolt extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said door edge and having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end being engageable with a keeper, said latch bolt being mounted on said door for limited sliding movement and for limited pivotal movement between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, said pivotal movement being about a pin intermediateits ends, compression spring means pivotally secured to said outer end and urging said outer end away from the hinged edge of said door whereby said inner end of said latch bolt is urged in the opposite direction toward keeper engaging position, operating means for moving said outer end of said latch bolt toward said hinged edge against the action of said spring means to disengage the inner end of said latch bolt from said keeper, a roller mounted on said latch bolt outwardly of the pivotal axis thereof, and wedge means secured to said door, said roller being arranged to bear against the outer surface of said wedge means thereby to urge said latch bolt outwardly with respect to said door when said latch bolt is substantially in said keeper engaging position.

2. A latch mechanism for arrangement on a hinged cabinet door adjacent the free edge thereof, said mechanism including an elongated latch bolt extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said door edge and having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end being engageable with a keeper, said latch bolt being mounted on said door for limited sliding movement and for limited pivotal movement between a keeper engaging position and a cocked position, said pivotal movement being about a pin intermediate its ends, compression spring means pivotally secured at one end thereof to said outer end and urging said outer end away from the hinged edge of said door, whereby said inner end of said latch bolt is urged in the opposite direction toward keeper engaging position a roller mounted on said latch bolt outwardly of the pivotal axis thereof, operating means engageable with said roller for moving said outer end of said latch bolt toward said hinged edge against the action of said spring means to disengage the inner end of said latch bolt from said keeper, and wedge means secured to said door, said roller being arranged to bear against the outer surface of said wedge means thereby to urge said latch bolt outwardly with respect to said door when said latch bolt is substantially in said keeper engaging position,

3. A latch mechanism for arrangement on a hinged cabinet door adjacent the free edge thereof, said mechanism including a supporting frame, an elongated latch bolt extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said door edge and having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end being engageable with a keeper, said latch bolt being mounted on said door for limited sliding movement and for 2 limited pivotal movement with respect to said frame between a keeper engaging position and a cooked position, said pivotal movement being about a pin intermediate its ends, a bar pivotally secured at one end of said outer end of said latch bolt and slidably mounted at its other end on said frame, spring means urging said bar and said outer end of said latch bolt away from the hinged edge of said door, whereby said inner end of said latch bolt is urged in the opposite direction toward keeper engaging position, operating means for moving said outer end of said latch bolt toward said hinged edge against the action of said spring means to disengage the inner end of said latch bolt from said keeper, a roller mounted on said latch bolt outwardly of the pivotal axis thereof, and wedge means secured to said door,

arranged to bear against the outer surface of said wedge means thereby to urge said latch bolt outwardly with respect to said door when said latch bolt is substantially in said keeper engaging position.

4. A latch mechanism for arrangement on a. hinged cabinet door adjacent the free edge thereof, said mechanism including a supporting frame, an elongated latch bolt extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said door edge and having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end being engageable with a keeper, said latch bolt being mounted on said door for limited sliding movement and for limited pivotal movement with respect to said frame between a keeper engaging position and a cooked position, said pivotal movement being about a pin intermediate its ends, a cam roller rotatably mounted on said outer end of said latch bolt, a cam element fixed with respect to said frame for cooperation with said cam roller, a bar pivotally secured at one end to said outer end of said latch bolt and slidably mounted at its other end on said frame, spring means urging said bar and said outer end of said latch bolt away from the hinged edge of said door and to a position wherein said cam roller lies immediately outward of said fixed cam element whereby said inner end of said latch bolt is urged in the opposite direction toward keeper engaging position and whereby said latch bolt is urged outwardly with respect to said door, and operating means for moving said outer end of said latch bolt toward said hinged edge against the action of said spring means and longitudinally inward to said cocked position.

5. A latch mechanism for arrangement on a hinged door adjacent the free edge thereof, said mechanism including an elongated latch bolt extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said door edge and having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end being engageable with a keeper, said latch bolt having a substantially longitudinal slot intermediate its ends engageable with a pin secured to said door whereby said latch bolt is arranged for limited pivotal and longitudinal sliding movement between a keeper engaging position and a cooked position, a cam roller rotatably mounted on said outer end of said latch bolt, a cam pin fixed with respect to said door for cooperation with said cam roller, spring means urging said roller away from the hinged edge of said door and to a position immediately outward of said fixed cam pin whereby said inner end of said latch bolt is urged toward keeper engaging position and whereby said latch bolt is wedged outwardly with respect to said door, and operating means for moving said cam roller away from said door edge and along the surface of said cam pin whereby said latch bolt is brought to said cocked position and said cam roller is urged inwardly of said door by said cam pin and said spring means.

LLOYD L. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

